News
This site aims to provide a permanent archive of the volunteers from the West Indies who flew for the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. The general public in the United Kingdom and elsewhere is scarcely aware of the involvement of Caribbean crew in the airwar of 1940-1945. In 1940, no so-called ‘men of colour’ could have joined the Royal Air Force; but by the end of the war in 1945, there were between 300 and 500 aircrew from the Caribbean out of a total of around six thousand volunteers who served during World War 2. About seventy were commissioned and one hundred and three received decorations. Yet these facts are not generally known even to the present Black British population in Britain. Since so little is recorded, we encourage surviving crew as well as their relatives and descendants to add to this body of information. Anyone who has a story to tell, information to share, or pictures to show is heartily invited to contribute to this website. How does this site work? The main body of this site consists of a list of names of aircrew that are known to us. The names are accessible either by country of origin, rank or decoration or by entering a name in the search-box. Each entry offers the option to add a comment.Here you can submit your information regarding the individual concerned. Pictures are best sent directly with a reference to the webmaster, who will place them in the entry. |
– |
Funeral Service for Flight Sergeant Peter Brown
Hundreds of members of the public, members of the armed forces, representatives of the Caribbean community, friends and neighbours attended the funeral of Flight Sergeant Peter Brown on May 25th in St. Clement Danes church in Westminster. He was one of the last surviving so-called ‘Pilots of the Caribbean’. [Picture by Victoria Jones; Read the complete report by BBC News here.]
Ex-Flt. Sgt. Peter Brown died alone in his flat in Westminster on 17 December 2022, aged 96. To date no relatives have been discovered and strenuous efforts are being made by the officials at Westminster City Council, the undertaker, various RAF and RAFA members and organisations, as well as Black History enthusiasts, to ensure that Mr. Brown has a funeral befitting his importance as one of the last (possibly the last) West Indian members of WW2 RAF aircrew in Britain. The original date and venue for the funeral service had to be moved to accommodate the very many well-wishers who have expressed the wish to attend. Now the service is to be held at St Clement Danes, the RAF Central Church, in Westminster on 25 May 2023 at 11am. More details on the website of the City of Westminster: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/news/funeral-arrangements-raf-veteran-peter-brown Allan Bundy: first black pilot in the RCAFFlying Officer Allan S. Bundy was the first Canadian-born black pilot to fly for the RCAF. He flew mostly Beaufighters and later Mosquito’s for 404 Squadron RCAF, named ‘The Buffaloes’ and participated in over 40 attacks, many against enemy shipping along the Norwegian coast. Read his story on the website of the Canadian Gouvernment here. Workshop ‘Freedom Fighters: Diverse Identities in the RAF’
The RAF Museum London, supported by the Institute of Historical Research, is staging a workshop entitled Freedom Fighters: Diverse Identities in the RAF on the morning of Saturday 20 November this year 2021. The workshop is about the African, Caribbean, South Asian and Irish volunteers that served in RAF despite being opposed to British colonial rule in their home countries. The event is moderated by Dr Harry Raffal, who says: “Freedom Fighters takes place within the context of the rapidly evolving debate about Britain’s imperial past, with the issues of slavery, the growth of nationalism and the cultural legacy of empire under close examination. The event is timely as it comes shortly before landmark anniversaries in the histories of Indian, Caribbean and Irish independence.” The individual experiences of three volunteers will be considered in detail: Noor Inayat Khan from India; Errol Walton Barrow from Barbados; and Irishman Robert Gregory (see pictures above). For more information please visit the website of the RAF Museum. Heroes Of The Caribbean (WW2 Documentary) | TimelineA Channel 4 film about West Indian ex-servicemen and women who served in the British forces in both world wars. The personalities include a soldier who fought for the English regiment in WWII, a pilot who joined the ATS, plus other individuals who were in the ground crew in the RAF. The film traces the story of these individuals from those early war years through to Enoch Powell’s era in 1968 when he requested these servicemen return to their home country. The Black RAF by Mark JohnsonMark Johnson talks about his great-uncle John Jellicoe Blair, one of almost 500 Black Caribbean air crew in the RAF during the Second World War Caribbean Spitfire-pilots
F/Sgt James Joseph Hyde (from Trinidad) – front row, third from left. F/Sgt Arthur O. Weeks (or Weekes, from Barbados) – back row, fourth from left. F/Sgt Collins Alwyin Joseph (from Trinidad) – back row, sixth from right. Other identified pilots are: Commanding Officer S/Ldr Count Franz Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld DFC (1910-1944, born in Italy from an Austrian father and an American mother) – front row, center. F/Lt Harold Edward ‘Harry’ Walmsley (British) – front row, eight from left. F/O John Jeremy Caulton (from New Zealand) – front row, fifth from right. Henry Lacey Smith (Australian) – front row, fourth from right. Kenneth Langley Charney (Argentinian) – back row, sitting on starboard wing next to cockpit [picture: copyright John Caulton, grandson of F/O J.J. Caulton] Combat Film No 73. Flying Officer Weekes of 132 Squadron on 21/12/1943 at 1200, flying Supermarine Spitfire IX. Target: Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Fragment No. 73 is at 8:00 minutes into the film, which features a number of fragments from 132 Squadron. [Copyright Imperial War Museum; courtesy John Caulton] Blue Plaque to commemorate RAF-veteran Cy GrantOn November 11, Rememberance Day 2017 a Blue Plaque was unveiled at the former Highgate home of the initiator of this archive, the actor, singer and writer Cy Grant. Read more about it here. West Indian Aircrew in East Yorkshire during WW2Researcher – and highly valued contributor to this archive – Mrs. Audrey Dewjee has published an article about West Indians who served as aircrew in the RAF in the East Yorkshire area during the war. The article highlights well-known Jamaicans Billy Strachan, Lincoln Lynch, Arthur Wint, John Blair, Godfrey Petgrave as well as Vivian Florent, whose father was from St. Lucia. It is published on the website of the Africans in Yorkshire Project. E.R. Braithwaite, former RAF pilot and author of To Sir, With Love dies at 104Edward Ricardo Braithwaite was born from university-educated parents in Georgetown, British Guiana in 1912. He was one of the first Caribbeans to join the RAF during the Second World War. After the war he got his doctorate in physics from Cambridge University but failed to find work as an engineer in post-war Britain. Instead he landed a job as a teacher in London’s East End. His acclaimed book ‘To Sir, With Love’ (1959) is based on his experiences there. After publication of the book he worked for the World Veterans Organisation, Unesco and as a diplomat for his native Guyana. He passed away on 12 December 2016. Digital Archive Project – International Bomber Command Centre: Looking for surviving veteran Caribbean Aircrew that flew for Bomber CommandThe International Bomber Command Digital Archive Project is pulling resources together from all over the world to form the definitive central source of information on Bomber Command. Incorporating oral histories and videographies, never before digitized documents held by museums and institutions worldwide and those in private ownership. These will include log books, photographs, letters and service citations all pulled together in an indexed and searchable archive before the story is lost forever. Therefore preserving the rich heritage of the Command and ensuring the memory of those who served is available for generations to come. For the oral-history section of the digital archive the curators would like to interview any veterans from the West-Indies that flew for Bomber Command that are still with us. Please contact Mr. Peter Jones of the project or the administrator of this website. Here is a link to the International Bomber Command Centre website: http://internationalbcc.co.uk/ And the digital archive: http://internationalbcc.co.uk/lbcm-database ‘Pilots of the Caribbean’ online nowThe online version of the exhibition ‘Pilots of the Caribbean’: Volunteers of African Heritage in the Royal Air Force is now available at http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/online-exhibitions.aspx . The original exhibition has been curated by the RAF Museum in partnership with the Black Cultural Archives. It has been on display in various venues throughout the UK and received much acclaim (see below). On Saturday 31 October 2015 the Black History Month Event will be held in the RAF Museum. There will be talks about RAF’s African-Caribbean volunteers and performances by storyteller Winston Nzinga. Also documents and artefacts relating to Black personnel will be on display. Read more: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/whats-going-on/events/pilots-of-the-caribbean-black-volunteers-in-the-r/ Exhibition ‘Pilots of the Caribbean’ awarded for Excellence
Flt. Lt. Clifton Norman Rhys Pinks (1923-2014)We have been informed by his family that F/Lt Clifton Norman Rhys Pinks passed away on September 7, 2014. In 1941, he volunteered to train as an officer in the Royal Air Force, based in Canada, and came to England in 1943 as a Signalman Air Gunner. After the war, he went to Aberdeen University to study medicine and was involved in top level athletics. The press alluded to Clifton as the ‘Dark Flash’. In 1950 he returned to the RAF and served with distinction till 1978. Untill 1988 he worked for the Ministry of Defence. Read more here >>>>>> Exhibition ‘Pilots of the Caribbean’ opens in CosfordThe exhibition ‘Pilots of the Caribbean: Volunteers of African Heritage in the Royal Air Force’ will open at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford on October 6th 2014. The exhibition opening will coincide with Black History Month, a national event celebrating the achievements of black men and women throughout history. Curated in partnership with the Black Cultural Archives, the exhibition will tell the inspirational story of these volunteers, commemorating and celebrating their vital contribution to the defence of Britain, her Empire and Commonwealth. Accompanying video footage and artefacts will bring to life the stories of these brave volunteers. Read more here. Exhibition ‘RAF and the Commonwealth – Stories from Africa, Asia and the Caribbean’ opening in Glasgow on 21 July 2014The exhibition will tell the story of the important role that African, Asian and Caribbean airmen and women have played throughout the history of the RAF, from its inception in 1918 until the present day. The WW2 history of 602 Squadron (City of Glasgow) – ‘Glasgow’s Own’ will also be part of the presentation that underlines the critical role that volunteers from across the Empire, the Dominions, the Commonwealth and Allied nations played in defeating the scourge of fascism. The exhibition also provides information on the importance of equality and diversity as core values in today’s RAF. At the Mitchell Library Exhibition Space, 22 July – 27 September 2014, admission is free. Download the poster here. View a TV-report of the opening here. The Passing of Squadron Leader Phillip Louis Ulric Cross, DSO, DFCWe received the sad news that Phillip Louis Ulric Cross has died in Port of Spain, Trinidad at the age of 96 on October 4, 2013. Cross was the highest ranking West Indian World War II veteran still alive and one of the few officers left of the legendary 139 Pathfinder Squadron of RAF Bomber Command. Cross later became Attorney General of Cameroon, and an esteemed judge in Ghana and Tanzania. After his return to Trinidad he served as a High Court Judge and from 1979 as a member of the Court of Appeal. In 1990 he became High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago to the UK and Ambassador to Germany and France. Watch the video “On Target – A Tribute to RAF Squadron Leader Phillip Louis Cross, DSO, DFC” on YouTube Pilots of the Caribbean: Volunteers of African Heritage in the Royal Air ForceThe RAF Museum London and subsequently the RAF Museum Cosford will celebrate the Afro-Caribbean contribution to the RAF – the first service to instigate an equal ops policy. Beginning with WWI through to WWII and The Cold War to currently serving members, the exhibition will include personal recollections, photos and more. The exhibition will open in London 1st November 2013 and run for six months, after which it will transfer to Cosford for a further six months. In the press: The Times, The Jamaica Gleaner, Blacknet, RAF-MOD, West Indians in Britain (1944)In this film, made during the Second World War by the Ministry of Information, a group of West Indians, led by Una Marson and Learie Constantine, assemble at Broadcasting House in London. They describe to listeners of a popular BBC radio series, ‘Calling the West Indies’, how people from the Caribbean are supporting the war effort. Constantine speaks about factory workers, and introduces some war-workers, including Ulric Cross, a bomber navigator from Trinidad. Cross speaks of West Indian volunteers in the armed forces and Spitfire-pilot James Hyde (killed in action later in the war) is portrayed briefly. [Adaptation of the original caption by Stephen Bourne; You-tube link courtesy Peter Devitt, RAF Museum London] XMORE > |
|||||||||||
Pilots of the Caribbean: Volunteers of African Heritage in the RAF was given a Highly Commended Award in the ‘Best Temporary Exhibition’ category at the Museums and Heritage Awards 2015 held in London on 29th April. The exhibition had been 
Promoting the Noble Heritage of Caribbean Air Crew who Served in Freedom's Cause in World War II - The Law Firm of Gabriel J Christian & Associates, LLC.